Carnival Ball Season in New Orleans: Getting to Krewe Balls and Super Krewe Parties in Style

Parades are the public face of Carnival, but for many New Orleanians the season is just as much about the balls. Between Twelfth Night on January 6 and Mardi Gras Day, krewes host formal balls across the city: some are private, invitation-only affairs with traditions going back more than a century, while others are huge, ticketed parties that follow a krewe's parade. For guests attending a ball for the first time, the customs can be confusing, and the logistics of a formal night out in Carnival season are worth planning carefully.

This guide explains how Carnival balls work, what to expect, and how to handle transportation for one of the most formal nights of the year in New Orleans.

Two Kinds of Carnival Balls

Traditional Krewe Balls

Many of the city's older krewes hold private balls that are attended by invitation only. These events often center on a tableau, a staged presentation featuring the krewe's king, queen, maids and costumed members, followed by dancing. Invitations are highly valued, dress is formal, and the customs vary from krewe to krewe. Some balls have specific traditions about when guests arrive, where they sit and who may dance during certain parts of the evening.

Super Krewe Parties

Some of the largest krewes host enormous parties on the night of their parade, often in large venues where the parade itself may roll through or end. These events are ticketed and much larger than a traditional ball, with live music, food and dancing late into the night. They are a different kind of evening from a private tableau ball, but they share the formal-wear tradition and the need for good transportation planning.

Dress Codes

Carnival balls are formal. Many call for black tie, and some traditional krewes call for white tie for men and floor-length gowns for women. Invitations or tickets usually spell out the dress code, and it's important to follow it. If you're new to ball season, ask your host what's expected, since some older balls have customs that aren't written on the invitation.

Formal wear and long gowns are one reason guests prefer a chauffeured ride. Getting in and out of a vehicle in a gown, walking from a distant parking space in formal shoes, and dealing with a parking garage in the rain are all easier to avoid.

Venues and Timing

Balls are held in venues across the city, including hotel ballrooms, theaters, historic event halls and large convention spaces. Traditional balls often begin in the evening with the tableau and continue late, while super krewe parties can start before the parade arrives and run past midnight.

• Check your invitation or ticket for the arrival time and any specific instructions.
• Plan around parade traffic. Many balls take place on nights when parades are rolling, which can close streets and slow traffic across the city.
• Allow extra time for arrival, especially if the venue is near a parade route.
• Plan the return. Balls often end late, when rideshares are scarce and prices high.

Why Parade Nights Complicate Things

During Carnival season, parades close major streets, and the closures can last for hours. On a busy parade night, getting across the city can take much longer than usual, and some routes may be blocked entirely. A chauffeur who knows the parade routes and closures can plan a route to the venue that avoids the worst traffic, and choose a drop-off and pickup point that works around the closures. Our Mardi Gras parade route pickup guide explains how pickups work during parades.

Arriving at the Ball

Arriving by chauffeured car is part of the tradition for many ballgoers. Your chauffeur drops you at the venue entrance, or as close as traffic and any closures allow, so you don't have to walk from a parking garage in formal wear. If you're attending with a group, one vehicle keeps everyone together and arriving at the same time, which can matter at balls with set arrival times.

Getting Home

The end of a ball is often the hardest part of the night. Many guests leave at the same time, rideshares surge, and parade-night traffic can still be heavy. A pre-booked pickup means your car is waiting when you're ready. With an hourly booking, the vehicle and chauffeur stay nearby throughout the evening, which is helpful if the ball runs late or if you're going on to an after-party or a late supper.

Etiquette for First-Time Guests

Traditional balls have customs that first-time guests are often unsure about. Bring your invitation or admission card if one was issued, since some balls check them at the door. Arrive at the time stated; at many tableau balls the presentation starts promptly, and late arrivals can be asked to wait. Follow the seating arrangements and the instructions of the krewe's committee members, and avoid leaving during the tableau. Photography rules vary, so check before taking pictures. When in doubt, follow your host's lead.

Super krewe parties are more relaxed, but tickets, bag rules and security screening usually apply. Check the event's official information for entry rules before you go.

Out-of-Town Guests

Many guests fly in for a ball, sometimes for the first time. If you're traveling to New Orleans for ball season, we can meet you at MSY, take you to your hotel, and handle the ball night itself. Airport pickups include 45 minutes of complimentary waiting on domestic arrivals and 60 minutes on international arrivals, timed from touchdown, and we track flights in case of delays.

Hotels fill quickly on parade weekends, especially near the parade routes, so book early. Our guide to booking Mardi Gras transportation explains why it pays to plan ahead.

Families of Royalty and Maids

For families with a daughter presented as a maid or queen, or a son or husband serving in the court, ball night is a major family occasion. Families often need transportation for several groups: the honoree arriving early for preparations, parents and relatives arriving later, and grandparents who may want to leave before the end. Tell us the different arrival and departure times, and we'll plan vehicles accordingly. For larger families, a Mercedes Sprinter carries up to thirteen passengers.

Choosing a Vehicle

For a couple, a BMW 7 Series or Mercedes S-Class suits a formal evening. For two couples or a small group, a Chevrolet Suburban or Lincoln Navigator seats five or six. For larger parties, a Mercedes Sprinter carries up to thirteen passengers. Gowns take up room, so tell us when you book if several guests in long dresses will be traveling together.

Booking Your Ball Night

Carnival weekends are among the busiest of the year for transportation in New Orleans, so book as soon as you have your invitation or tickets. Sedan and SUV reservations can be cancelled free of charge up to 3 hours before pickup, and Sprinter, limousine and special-event bookings up to 12 hours before. Your quote is all-inclusive, covering tolls, taxes and gratuity.

Call (877) 609-1919 any time or book online. Tell us the venue, your arrival time and whether a parade is rolling that night, and we'll plan the route around the closures.